Steam-trap



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'VANDERMAN.

STEAM TRAP.

No. 310,967. 1 Patented Jan. 20,1885.

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.llttornez g (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet W. VANDERMAN.

STEAM TRAP.

Patented Jan. 20, 1885.

R 0 M E W A J N. PULRs. Phamumb m her. wushiu mn, D. c.

(No Model.) s Sheets-heet s. W. VANDERMAN.

. STEAM TRAP.

No. 310,967. Patented Jan. 20, 1885.

@IQBQW Nrrn STATES ATENT rarer.

WVILLIAM VANDERMAN, OF \VILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT.

STEAM-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed October 13, 1884.

character which shall be simple in its construction, effective and efficient in its opera tion, and strong and durable.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a steam-trap embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View. Fig. 3 is a central longi tudinal vertical section of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a valve used in connection with my improved trap.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A represents the body or case of my improved trap, which is preferably cast, and is provided at its lower end with a support or seat, B. Said trap is also provided on its body or case with a series of ribs, a, extending its entire vertical length and strengthening said body or case.

At the lower end of the body or case A,

upon its side, is provided. screw-threaded opening I), which is adapted to receive an outlet-pipe, C, which leads to the boiler, (not shown,) said pipe being exteriorly screwthreaded to engage with the female of the said opening 12. Upon the body or case A, near its upper end, and on the opposite side from the opening 6, is provided a similar screw-threaded opening, 0, for the reception of the exteriorlyscrew-threaded end of an inlet'pipe, D, leading from what I term the receiver (not shown) to the trap.

Upon the top of the body or case A is provided a screw-threaded opening, d, to receive the exteriorly-screw-threaded end ofaforked support or standard, E, the ends of the forks Patent No. 310,967, dated January 20, 1885.

(N0 model.) 7

of which are recessed or cut away, as shown ate, to form bearings for a purpose which will be hereinafter fully explained.

F represents a lever, at one end of which is 'mounted a weighted ball, f, having a central passage to receive the end of said lever. Said adjacent to the innerend of the passage or opening, which collar or flange is provided with a screw-threaded opening to receive a set-screw, g, whereby said ball may be ad justed and rigidly secured at different points upon the end of said lever. At or about midoutwardly-extending arms, G, which bear in the recesses formed upon the ends of the forked support or standard E. The end of the lever F opposite the weighted ball f is turned upwardly, as shown at lz-,and is exteriorly screw= threaded.

H represents a ball, which may be made of any desired sheet metal; but it is preferably constructed of copper. There is an opening, 11, formed at the lower end of said ball, and surrounding said opening and secured to the ball H is an annular flange or collar, t", which is preferably cast. Said flange is interiorly screw-threaded, and receives the exteriorlyscrew-threaded end of the lever F.

I I represent passages formed in the lever F, the passage I extending from one of the arms G, near the outer end thereof, through the lever F,direotly to. the ball H, and the passage I from the other or opposite arm, G, running in a parallel line with the passage I, but having no communication therewith. It will be seen that the end of the coil M communicates with the passage I at one side of the arm,while the end ofthe coil K communicates with the upon the opposite side thereof. The end of the passage 1, at the point where it communicates with the ball H, is screw-threaded. Fitting the screw-threaded ends of the passage I is a pipe, J, which extends nearly to the top of the ball H, inside the same, and having communication with the ball H at such point. In the top of the case, near the edge thereof, is

municating with the interior of the case or body A.

K represents a coiled pipe, which is conball is also provided with a flange or collar, 9,

way the length of this lever are provided two passage 1 at the opposite end of the arm and ICO provideda screw-threaded opening, is, comnected with the opening is in the case A at I one end, and with the passage 1,by means of a tubular screw-threaded connecting-flange, K. It will thus be seen thata direct communication is established between the case A and the hollow ball H.

L represents avalve-casing, which is located on top of the body or case A,at one side thereof, and havinga downwardly-extending tubu- IO lar and exterior]y-screw-threaded stem, Z, to engage a screw-threaded opening in the top of the case, thus establishing a communication between the said valve-casing L and the body or case A. The valve-easing L is provided [5 011 one of its sides, about midway its length, with a screw-threaded opening, 70, which is adapted to be cngaged by a pipe, Z, communica-t-ing with the boiler, (not shown,) said pipe being exteriorly screw-threaded at its point of connection with the opening in the valve L. Upon the oppositeside ofthe valvecasing L is provided ascrew-threaded hole or opening, m, which connects with a passage, at, leading to the upper chamber, m", of the valve.

M represents a coiled pipe, similar in construction to the one already mentioned. This coiled pipe M rests upon the top of the body or case, and is connected with the opening m 0 of the valve-casing L at its lower end, its upper end being connected with the passage 1, already described, thus establishing a commtr nication between the valve and hollow ball H. The valve-casing L has openings in its top to 5 receive bushings N N. The bushing N has a seat or recess upon its under side of the shape of a truncated cone, while the bushing N has a vertical recess or passage, 11, as shown.

0 represents the valve-stem. which has a disk, Z, which is of the form of a truncated cone, and which, when the stem is raised, is adapted to fit the seat on the lower end of the bushing N.

0 represents another disk, formed on the 5 stem 0. This disk is the form of an inverted truncated cone, and is adapted to fit a seat,0, of the same fornuwhich is located adjacent to the upper end of the passage Z.

Upon the stem 0, about midway between .50 the two disks, is provided an inwardly-extending tappet, Z the purpose of which will be more fully described.

P represents another valve-stem, the upper end of which is located in the opening in the 5 bushing N. The upper end of the sides of the passage N are cut off inwardly to form a seat for a disk, N of the form of a truncated cone, and extending inwardly from one side of said passage is an arm, of, for supporting 6e and holding the lower end of the stem P in place.

Upon the stern P, on aline with the tappet of the stem 0, is arranged a tappet, 0 which extends inwardly. It will be seen that when 6 5 the stem 0 is raised the stem P will be raised a corresponding distance by means of their tappet-connections.

Upon the outer upper side of the valve-casing is arranged an upwardly-extending arm, Q, to which is pivoted a rod or lever, It, said rod or lever passing through an opening, q, in the up per end of the stem 0 outside of the valve. It will thus be seen that when said rod or lever is raised it will raise the stem 0, which, as before mentioned, will raise the stem P in the manner described. The other end of the rod or lever is bent around, and is pivoted to a pin, r, extending outwardly from the weighted ball f.

The operation is as follows: The trap is placed a proper distance above the boiler, with the dischargepipe connecting the trap with the boiler, (not shown,) the receivingpipe connecting with the receiver, (not shown,) which is placed at the lowest point to receive water from the heating-coils, &c. The steam-va1ve casing or chamber L is connected with the steam-pipe from the boiler by the connecting-pipe Z. The steam being turned onto the coils,the air in them is forced into the trap or case A, and from thence through the passage 7t and coil K tothe ball H,through the passage 1'. This passage 1 terminates in the ball H at i, and differs from the passage I in that it has no pipe J extending up into the ball H. The air which has been forced into the ball H through the coil K then passes down through passage I, through coil M, into the valve casing or chamber L at m,- from thence it passes upward through the valve and escapes into the outer atmosphere by the spindle O and bushing N. In this way all the air is discharged from the heating pipes or coils, and also the steam is allowed to escape in the same manner as the air described above from the case A and the ball H after each operation of the trap, so as to readily admit of its being refilled with water for another discharge. As the pipe J, extending up near the top of the ball H, is so elevated that the water which is forced into the ball H overcomes by its weight the weighted ball f, the ball H then makes a downward movement, and at this point the water ceases to flow into the ball H. As the air is being discharged from the case A and the ball H, as above described, the water is forced from the receiverinto pipe D, into case A, and fills case A from thence into the passage is, through the coil K, through the passage I, and continues filling the ball H until said ball is filled enough to overcome the weighted ball fby its weight. The ball H then being the heaviest makes a downward movement, the coil K allowing it do so by being compressed. The coil M assists the ball H to make this downward movement, as it was compressed by the weighted ball f before the movement. The ballf in making the upward movement raises the lever R,which lever, be ing attached to the spindle O, raises the same from the valveseat 0', also at the same time the valve-spindle P is raised from the valveseat N. The valve is open until the projection Z strikes the ground-joint in bushing N,

and in this way prevents any water or steam escaping from the valve around the spindle O and bushing N when the valve is open. The ball H, making a downward movement, opens the valve L, as above described. The steam is then by this operation admitted into valvecasing I through pipe Z. The steam is admitted through the valve-seat N into case A through passage j, and at the same time through the passage m and m, and through the coil M from thence through the passage I, through the pipe J, into the ball H. As the direct steam-pressure from the boiler has been admitted onto the water in ease A, and also onto the water that has been admitted into ball H by the operation above described. and as the trap is elevated above the water-line of the boiler, the pressure on the trap and boiler is equalized by the above operation, and the water flows out of case A, through pipe 0, to the boiler by its own gravitation. As the water is discharged from the case A it is also discharging from the ball H back through pas,

sage I, coil K, and into the case A through passage 70. As the water that fills and empties from the ball H fills and empties through the coil K, the coil M, by means of the pipe J and the passage 1 and its connection to the valve L, conducts the air out of the case A and ball H when the trap is filling, or the steam that may have been in the case A or ball H when the trap was discharging. The same coil, M, conducts the steam from the valve casing L, through the coil M, and through the passage 1 and pipe J, into the ball H when the ball has made a downward movement, or when the trap is discharging. After the water has been discharged from the ball H enough to lighten it so that the weighted ball f is the heaviest, the ball f makes a downward movement and carries the lever It with it until the spindle O strikes the valveseat O", and also the spindle has descended by its own weight, and closes the valve-scat at N. This valve N when closed, allows of no escape of water or steam from case A. This valve-seat N is held to its seat by the back-pressure from ball H, through coil M and the passages m and m, as the escape of steam or air at bushing N is not so great but what there is a backpressure on valve-seat N when the valve is closed. After the weighted ball f has made the downward movement and the valves are closed at O and N whatever steam that may have remained in case A and ball H while discharging the water passes back through the passage 1 and coil M and the passages on in and escapes by the spindle Q and bushing N to the outer air. While this steam is escaping from the trap the water is filling case A through pipe D for another discharge. The coils K and M act as conducting-coils and also as springs.

The principle of the construction of the coil K is such that it permits of the water passing slowly from the ball H, and gives the case A sufficient time to empty before the weighted ballf descends.

Having fully described my inventiouwhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. in a steam-trap, the combination, with a body or case, of coiled pipes arranged upon the upper side thereof, and alever carrying a weighted ball and a hollow ball, substantially as set forth.

In a steam-trap, the combination, with a body or case, of coiled pipes arranged upon the upper side thereof. a valve, aiid a pivoted lever having a hollow ball at one end and weighted at its other end, one of said pipes connecting the hollow ball and valve, while the other connects the hollow ball and case, substantially as set forth.

3. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a body or case, of coiled pipes arranged upon the upper side'thereof, a valve, and a pivoted lever having a hollow ball at one end, its other end being weighted, and an arm or rod connecting the valve-stem with said weighted end of the lever, substantially as set forth.

at. In a steam-trap, the combination, with a body or case, of a fork ed standard having recessed ends, and removably secured to said body, a lever having outwardly-extending arms beari ng in said recessed ends of the forked standard, a hollow ball arranged upon one end of said lever, a valve, and coiled pipes conneeti ng the ball and valve and the ball and body or case, substantially as set forth.-

5. The combination, with a body or case having inlet and outlet tubes, as described, of

a valve arranged upon the upper side thereof and communicating therewith, a lever pivoted upon the upper side of said body, a hollow ball secured upon one end of said lever, a valve, and coiled pipes connecting the ball and valve and the ball and body or case, substantially as set forth.

The combination, with a body or case having inlet and outlet openings, as described, of a valve arranged upon the upper side thereof and communicating therewith, a lever pivoted upon the upper side of said case, said lever having a hollow ball at one end and a weighted ball at its other end, a rod connecting the valve-stein and weighted ball, and coiled pipes connecting the hollow ball and valve and the ball and case, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a body or case having inlet and outlet openings, as described, of a valve arranged upon the upper side thereof and communicating therewith, and also communicating with the boiler, a lever pivoted upon the upper side of said case, said lever having a hollow ball at one end and a weighted ball at its other end, arod connecting the weighted ball and valve-stem, and coiled pipes connecting the valve and hollow ball and the case and hollow ball, substantially as set forth.

, weighted ball at its other end, passages formed I S. The combination, with a body or case having inlet and outlet openings, as described, of a valve communicating therewith, and also communicating with the boiler, a lever pivoted upon the upper end of said case, said lever having a hollow ball at one end and a in said lever and communicating with the hollow ball, and coiled pipes connecting one of said passages and the valve, while the other connects the other passage and the case, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a body or case having inlet and outlet openings, as described, of a valve communicating therewith, and also communicating with the boiler, a lever pivoted upon the upper end of said case, said lever having a hollow ball at one end and an adjustable weighted ball at its other end, a rod connecting the valve-stem and weighted bill], passages formed in said lever and communieating with the hollow ball, and coiled pipes connecting one of said passages and the valve, while the other connects the other passage and body or case, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with a body or case having inlet and outlet openings, as described, of a valve communicating therewith, and also communicating with the boiler, a forked standard secured upon the upper side of said case, alever pivoted upon said standard, said lever having ahollow ball at one end and an adjustable weighted ball at its other end, a pivoted rod connecting the valve stem and weighted ball, passages formed in said lever, pipes arranged at the ends of said passages and leading into'the hollow ball, and coiled pipes connecting one of said passages and the valve, while the other connects the other passage and case, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM VANDERMAN.

Witnesses: I

GEO. WV. MELoNY, J AMES J. Know. 

